The TouchMonitor has been customised to Lawo’s requirements in-line with its support for all relevant standards, including SMPTE 2110, AES67, Ravenna and Dante. It is equipped with a high-grade, 9-inch touchscreen and an graphical user interface that can be controlled by using a finger or a mouse. Instruments can be scaled, randomly positioned and combined in various configurations for optimal use of available screen space. Set-up changes can easily be made because of the monitor’s context-sensitive, on-screen help feature that supports the user.

‘We simply trust in RTW when it comes to audio metering solutions,’ says Lawo Senior Product Manager for Audio Production, Christian Struck. ‘The brand stands for reliability and quality. Our cooperation started a couple of years ago and since then we have equipped several of our consoles with RTW’s TouchMonitors.’

In addition to the integrated RTW TM9, the mc296 offers innovative features, such as network-based IP-Share gain compensation, enhanced multi-user operation capabilities and mix-assist systems, enabling sound engineers to concentrate on the overall balance and sound quality of the production. The console also features LiveView video thumbnails in addition to standard channel labeling via channel numbers, individual text labels and static icons.

The AECM206 is a dense, robust fixture mounted on a resilient base to isolate ambient noise, which can adversely affect measurement integrity. Equally capable in both R&D and production test applications, it is well-suited to testing circum-aural, supra-aural and intra-concha headphones and earbuds. The AECM206’s high level of acoustic isolation also enables the measurement of noise-reduction performance of ANC (active noise canceling) headphones, as well as the evaluation of hearing protection earmuffs. It is a more cost-effective solution for headphone test when compared with a Hats (Head and Torso Simulator), and is competitively priced with regards to comparable fixtures.

The Headphone Test Fixture is shipped fully-assembled and ready to use upon arrival, with occluded ear simulators (microphones with acoustic couplers) and preamplifiers installed and connected to BNC-terminated coaxial cables. The microphone/preamplifier pairs are TEDS-compliant, CCP-powered and calibrated. TEDS – Transducer Electronic Data Sheet – programming allows microphone identification and calibration information to be read by a connected instrument, such as the Audio Precision APx1701 Transducer Test Interface.

Two sets of pinnae (hardness Shore OO-35 and A-25) are provided with the unit. The pinnae are symmetric, which offers convenience when testing stereo headphones and earphones. The AECM206 is also delivered with an adapter for the CAL250 sound level calibrator (optional), product documentation and disassembly tools.

From the lab to the production line, confidence in measurement results is integral to confidence in prototype or product performance. Calibration provides documented and traceable verification that instruments and accessories meet or exceed all of their published specifications. Each AECM206 ships with calibration certificates for its integrated occluded ear simulators and preamplifiers, enabling a complete, calibrated test set-up when paired with an APx Series analyzer and APx1701 Transducer Test Interface.

‘The increasing complexity of audio devices – Bluetooth headphones with ANC, for example – is creating ever-more complicated test scenarios,’ says Audio Precision CEO, Dave Schmoldt. ‘AP continues to help engineers reduce that complexity by providing test solutions that support analogue, digital and electro-acoustic measurement. We’re thrilled to now have the AECM206 as part of that test solution.’

The AECM206 retails for US$11,024/£8,546/€9,756 or US$11,232/£8,707/€9,940 in an optional hard-shell case.

]]>Test & MeasurementThu, 29 Jun 2017 07:41:32 +0000Powersoft Armonía Pro Audio Suite v2.10http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9840-powersoft-armonia-pro-audio-suite-update
http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9840-powersoft-armonia-pro-audio-suite-updatePowersoft has updated its Armonía Pro Audio Suite remote control and monitoring software, adding an innovative and interactive tuning feature that improves the process of measuring and aligning a sound system and also enables users to work without noise in the surrounding environment.

Armonía v2.10 is now fully integrated with Rational Acoustic Smaart v8, which can read real time, imported or shared location traces (smart, txt, csv, xml). The technology underpins the new tuning plug-in, bringing offline manipulation with EQ, Gain, Polarity, Delay, Sum, Average and Merge. The new workflow for quiet, offline tuning, requires a single set of starting measurements before the process is completed in virtual simulation.

‘The concept of measuring and tuning a sound system has been changed with Armonía,’ says Powersoft System Engineer Manager, Luigi Chelli. ‘Forget about tiring Pink Noise listening sessions and complex multi-microphone set-ups. ‘Measure once and tune quietly’ is the key concept.’

EAW Greyboxes have been integrated into Armonía. Once loaded as a path in Armonía options, the Greyboxes become available in the speaker configuration page complete with a comprehensive range of options is available to perfectly calibrate the sound of the speakers. Options include air-loss compensation and amplifier sizing.

Powersoft has included enhancements to the visualisation of EQ in this latest release. Alongside optimised graphics, automatic frequency-reordered filters keep the most-used filters always to hand.

The latest version of Armonía is also the first public release since the recent launch of the Quattrocanali 1204, 2404 and 4804, as well as the Duecanali 1604. As such, the software update fully supports the control and monitoring of the standard non-DSP versions of these models, giving access to control Gain, Mutes, MaxOutVoltage, as well as metering, faults and warnings,

Further additions include an expanded preset library including presets from Bose SM Series, DAS Aero Series, custom d&b audiotechnik Max12-15, and custom Nexo GeoT. Firmware for all supported devices will also be included in the installation package. Armonía will prompt the user to update device firmware to benefit from all the latest enhancements. Armonía v2.10 software also supports multiple serial ports at once in the Communication Manager and provides minor fixes on the X Series, DSP4 and other models.

The release is ready to download from the newly-launched Armonía website. The website offers users a quick overview of the main features of the software, as well as the latest Armonía tutorial videos. The download process has also been improved and registration is no longer required on the Powersoft website.

Intended for use in commercial installation, broadcast, live sound, houses of worship, theatre and production applications, the BM-A1-64Dante is an Audio-over-IP audio monitoring solution that allows confidence monitoring of any channel present on a Dante network. AES67 compliance also means the BM-A1-64Dante can operate in any other compatible AoIP network.

The unit can be configured to monitor up to 64 channels with two monitoring modes available to the user. With the new firmware, Dante Receiver Channel names are now automatically displayed, which makes configuration and operation faster and completely intuitive.

‘With up to 64 channels routed to the front panel, it’s possible to audition each channel individually,’ explains Bel’s Craig Lovell. ‘With v1.31 firmware installed, the Dante Receiver Channel name on the selected channel is now automatically displayed, which makes for very intuitive operation.

‘It’s also possible to combine any number of channels to create unique stereo monitor mixes if you need simultaneous monitoring of multiple channels. In this instance, the availability of channel names means that custom combinations can be quickly achieved.’

Additionally, inserting headphones automatically mutes the front panel speakers and presets allow for different mix combinations to be stored and recalled. The audio present on the speakers is also available via balanced analogue (two XLR) and AES/EBU (a single XLR) outputs, which is useful if you are connecting the unit to external monitors or if using the BM-A1-64Dante as a simple two channel breakout unit to feed external equipment.

The Dante monitor is housed in a 1U-high rack chassis, features a redundant power supply as standard and offers full audio redundancy over a Gigabit Ethernet network.

]]>Test & MeasurementTue, 30 May 2017 08:32:11 +0000Jünger and Tecom partner on loudness monitoringhttp://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9608-juenger-and-tecom-partner-on-loudness-monitoring
http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9608-juenger-and-tecom-partner-on-loudness-monitoringBroadcast and telecommunications software development company Tecom Group and digital audio processors manufacturer Jünger Audio have announced a partnership that will see the integration of Jünger’s Level Magic hardware and Tecom’s Loudness Analyzer software.

The two companies’ joint aim is to relate audio data to a schedule in order to enable fast and easy detection of possible loudness deviations, and give broadcasters improved control over quality of service and assist with loudness regulation compliance.

Jünger Audio Level Magic audio processors provide loudness measurement and processing according to all worldwide loudness standards (including all the revisions of ITU-R BS.1770, EBU R 128, ATSC A/85). Having already shown great efficiency, the Level Magic algorithm allows wideband loudness control while preserving audio quality. Broadcasters requiring efficient loudness management for a number of channels have multichannel and multi-format audio monitoring. At the end of the processing, momentary, short-term and integrated loudness plus true-peak input and output values are logged and transferred to J*AM Loudness Logger software.

The Loudness Analyzer reads J*AM Loudness Logger log-files, combines them with the broadcast schedule and calculates the integrated loudness of each programme block, advertisement and announcement. Then the application compares the neighbouring events’ integrated loudness generates an analytical report which can be used in order to confirm the compliance with local regulations.

Other benefits of the integration include measurement data delivery over network and software-based analysis, which doesn’t require any additional hardware. Access to analytical reports ensures quick detection of loudness deviations, a reduction in response time and better performance as a result. Equally, regulatory reporting gives broadcasters assurance and improves audience trust.

‘We are proud to partner with Jünger Audio,’ says Tecom Group General Manager, Alexander Kabanov. ‘It’s a step towards a new level of loudness control where real-time and file-based solutions combine to complement each other. We believe this integration will allow both companies to meet customers’ needs at a higher level.’

]]>Test & MeasurementThu, 20 Apr 2017 07:27:06 +0000Outline OpenArray2http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9531-outline-openarray2
http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/9531-outline-openarray2On-going research and feedback from distributors has resulted in a new version of Outline’s free simulation software – OpenArray2.

Used to predict the results expected from live performances or installations involving Outline’s wide range of loudspeaker systems (line arrays, subwoofers and point source systems), the software enables users to cover every position in a listening space even with unusual configurations. Requiring a single installation file for Windows 64-bit OS, OpenArray2 uses a proprietary calculation technique that accelerates the calculation process and maintains prediction accuracy – highly reliable simulations are generated in seconds.

While maintaining the previous version’s incredibly fast calculation speed, rendering time and operating stability, OpenArray2 puts numerous additional functions at PA system engineers’ and sound designers’ disposal. These include multiple selection and dragging, enabling multiple objects to be selected rapidly, the possibility of creating complex solids very quickly, extruding solids from flat surfaces, create multiple surfaces from a section view (useful when designing balconies, tiers and corners in sports arenas).

When line arrays are to be deployed, it is now possible to obtain a quick 2D simulation on the array’s plane. The microphone function now allows to choose multiple measurement points and show multiple frequency responses in the same graph.

Easy to use and simple to configure, Spectralissime is a 60-, 120- or 240-band spectrum analyser application based on an optimised band-pass filter bank. It performs a high -end frequency analysis with the same precision on the full-range (20Hz-20kHz), ten to 100 times per second using VB-Audio’s frequency from 2001. As a plug-in, Spectralissime takes advantage of 15 years' experience in audio digital measure, to offer simpler operation with new essential functions.

Spectralissime can use any audio device as audio source (WDM, KS, MME, ASIO), and can manage up to 64 I/O on ASIO device (patch function allows channel selection). Two Channels can be selected – called A & B. This first Spectralissime version performs a single channel view, but the analysis can then done on A, B, A+B or A-B. Spectralissime can also take a signal from a VBAN Stream, and then can be ported to a second computer connected on local network (Ethernet). A monitoring option allows selection of another audio device to monitor the analysed signal.

Spectralissime offers new ways of viewing spectrum for a better analysis and comprehension of audio signal. It proposes different scale in gain (6dBfs, 10dBfs, dB SPL) and frequency representation (decade or octave) and can be used as a measuring tool with a calibrated microphone. The Isophonic Scale displays an isophonic curve and displays scale in dB SPL. A calibration value can be set to any microphone for any acoustic measure.

With the update, TM7/TM9 TouchMonitors now offer up to four parallel instances of stereo vectorscope metering, allowing simultaneous monitoring of transmission streams. A 12th-octave filter bank has been added to the RTA (Real Time Analyzer) feature set for better graduated frequency distribution analysis. A custom password feature has also been implemented for increased security against unauthorised adjustment changes. In addition, v6.0 supports four-channel operation of a TouchMonitor without a multichannel licence, allowing operation with RTW’s TMR7. Alongside the new features, bug fixes have also been implemented, as well as adjustments to the recent changes in the loudness standards around the world.

The new firmware can be installed into all RTW TM7 and TM9 series instruments, as well as into TMR7 units. TM7 and TM9 TC Electronic devices can be updated to benefit from bug fixes. To access all new features and functions these devices must be upgraded with the SW20021 TC Conversion Kit.

The TM7 and TM9 TouchMonitors, which include the innovative Magic LRA instrument, feature a seven and 9-inch touch-sensitive display, respectively, and provide flexibility and modularity combined with intuitive control. Based on the same technology and flexible, modular configuration as RTW’s TM7 TouchMonitor, the four-channel TMR7 TouchMonitor, featuring a 7-inch touch screen, integrates all metering options required for loudness monitoring for radio broadcasting. Similar to all of RTW’s audio metering and additional equipment, the TM7, TMR7 and TM9 are compatible with EBU-R128 and all other major global loudness standard specifications.

‘We pride ourselves on listening to the needs of our customers. As a result, we are constantly developing and updating our products and software to enhance the efficiency of our customer’s workflows,’ says RTW CEO, Andreas Tweitmann.

The microphones are free-field, pre-polarised systems, combining mic capsules with low-noise preamplifiers to complement to the company’s APx line of audio analysers, software and accessories. The AP microphone family includes two half-inch and two quarter-inch measurement mics, as well as an occluded ear simulator.

All units are pre-polarized, TEDS-compliant and CCP powered. The microphones are calibrated, ensuring the utmost of confidence in measurement results when paired with calibrated instruments such as the APx515 Audio Analyzer and APx1701 Transducer Test Interface. Each mic is delivered with its own certificate of calibration.

Each Audio Precision measurement microphone and microphone system is TEDS programmed to the IEEE 1451.4 standard for SMART transducers, v1.0 format. TEDS (Transducer Electronic Data Sheet) data contains microphone identification and calibration information that can be read by a connected instrument, such as the Audio Precision APx1701 Transducer Test Interface.

When compared to traditional, externally polarised microphones, pre-polarised systems offer a number of advantages. Specifically, pre-polarised mics offer a lower cost per channel (cabling, power supplies, and preamplifiers), are better suited to environments with changing, or high, humidity, and offer reduced set-up and test time owing to easy access to CCP power, interchangeability with other CCP sensors and measurement efficiency.

]]>Test & MeasurementTue, 13 Dec 2016 12:33:03 +0000TSL Products PAM1/PAM2 upgradeshttp://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/8770-tsl-products-pam1-pam2-upgrades
http://www.fast-and-wide.com/equipment-releases/test-a-measurement/8770-tsl-products-pam1-pam2-upgradesTSL Products has unveiled the world’s first uncompressed video-over-IP audio monitors, designed to smooth the transition to an IP-based workflow in any facility involved in the production and transmission of live productions – including sports, news and live events.

The PAM-IP range can monitor video, audio and its associated metadata from either a traditional 3G-SDI connection or a S2022-6 IP stream. It is designed to work seamlessly in a hybrid environment where an SDI, AES and analogue-based infrastructure can be monitored alongside an IP-based infrastructure. With this array of connectivity options, the PAM-IP range offers more format flexibility than any monitoring device currently available.

‘At TSL we recognise that the transition to an all-IP environment will not be immediate,’ says Product Director, Pieter Schillebeeckx. ‘For the foreseeable future at least, infrastructures will be hybrids where existing standards and technologies co-exist and interoperate with the new. With the new PAM-IP range, our customers are able to utilise their existing equipment alongside their IP infrastructure, safe in the knowledge that the PAM-IP is capable of evolving with new Video- and Audio-over-IP standards and protocols as they mature.’

Until now, it was impossible to monitor audio directly from an IP stream without going through some cumbersome format conversion first. With the PAM-IP range of audio monitors, customers can now monitor uncompressed video and audio over IP without superfluous format conversion hardware, thereby smoothing their transition to an all IP workflow.

The IP variant of TSL Products’ flagship PAM1 and PAM2 will be available with several options including: Video over IP (S2022-6 with other formats following), Audio over IP (Dante/AES67) and UHD (4K over 12G-SDI or Quad3G-SDI). This makes it ideally suited to meet the needs of any facility making the transition to IP.